My eyes fluttered open as I heard the repeating sound of my alarm clock blaring through the silence of my room. I groaned as I forced my body up from my mattress and moved my hand around before hitting the silence on the alarm clock. The blaring soon ended and I rubbed my tired eyes with my hands in hopes to wake myself up somewhat. I had been up all night, a total mess after what had happened at the Gunner family dinner. 

My eyes flickered over to my other side where I saw Pierce's half-naked body dead asleep in my bed. My heart skipped a beat when I thought back to everything that had happened last night with Pierce and me. He insisted on staying with me through the night and was the friend I needed more than ever after reliving the memories that I tried so hard to erase over the years. I hadn't talked to anyone about Cayde in years, especially after I lost the case in court.

Pierce looked so peaceful when he was asleep. His eyelids were shut softly, his lips pressed together, and the sun that peaked through my curtains blared down onto his smooth skin. After last night I was left just as confused as ever about Pierce, he was once the guy I feared the most but now the one who I found peace in comfort in. No matter what my feelings had been about Pierce, I knew I was strictly just some girl at most to him. 

"Pierce." I placed my arm on his shoulder, shaking his body slightly "Pierce it's 6:30, we have to go to school." I earned no response from Pierce except a groan before he turned his body to the side, his back facing me while he held onto the pillow beside him. Letting out a sigh, I had known I was not about to win this fight with him and after many morning car rides with him; he was most definitely not a morning person. 

Pushing the comforter off my body, I forced myself out of bed and continued to grab out my clothes for today. "Maybe you should just go to school like that." Pierce's voice spoke up, making me whirl around to face him. I rolled my eyes at him in response before getting dressed. "What clothes are you going to wear to school? I mean since you only have the tux from last night.." I trailed off, knowing Pierce would rather be dead than be seen in a suit at school.

"I probably have clothes in my car." His voice was held with raspiness as he sat up and rubbed his face in his hands. My eyes flickered over his body that was covered with nothing but underwear before averting my eyes quickly as Pierce stood up, approaching closer to me. He placed an index finger underneath my chin, forcing my eyes to look up to his. 

"You know Ambrosia if you're going to check me out you need to be more subtle about it." Pierce's lips instantly tugged up to a smirk as his eyes narrowed down at me. "W-what?" I stuttered, not knowing how to come back at him "You wish I was checking you out, Gunner." 

"Uh-huh." Pierce grabbed his keys off my nightstand "Can you grab my clothes? They should be in the trunk, I'd go out but don't want to give your neighbors a show." With that said, I grabbed Pierce's keys and didn't say anything else; knowing he'd turn into something to blow up his ego. I headed out to Pierce's challenger, popping the trunk with the key and looking around for some clothes. The trunk wasn't filled but it had a few items here and there.  

Gathering his clothes together, a piece of paper fell out that was wrapped up in the pair of jeans I held in my arm. Picking up the envelope, it was addressed to Pierce and the return address went to the name Deliah Moyer. My eyes scanned over the envelope and I knew it was from Pierce's aunt that had raped him when he was young. My lips parted as I stared at the envelope before looking into the trunk and pushing a blanket to the side where many other envelopes were hidden all from Deliah. 

What was this? Why was she writing to Pierce? And why were there so many? Not wanting to snoop through Pierce's personal things. I placed them all back underneath the blanket before shutting the trunk and heading inside. I knew how distraught Pierce had been over his Aunt Deliah, anyone would be if they had gone through that. I couldn't imagine the audacity to write to him after the trauma she had put him through, I mean it was obvious why Pierce was the way he was. He numbed everything with sex, drinking, and smoking and always felt the need to not put on any type of emotion cause he saw it as a sign of weakness. 

Heading upstairs I placed Pierce's clothes on my bed before walking into the bathroom where Pierce had been brushing his teeth with a spare toothbrush Aster had lying around. I hesitantly walked up to the sink next to him before wetting my toothbrush. Was I supposed to say something? What would I even say? 

After fighting with myself internally as to what I should do, I decided against it in order to not make Pierce blow up over nothing. "Your clothes are on my bed," I said as I finished brushing my teeth and let the faucet run through the skin before heading out of the bathroom.

After we had both gotten ready we had headed to school, but Aster was nowhere in sight this morning. I figured he had just gone to pick up Evangeline or gone to work earlier than normal, but was glad that I didn't have to face the talk I would receive after Pierce fell asleep in my bed last night. The car ride was silent for the most part, and I didn't know whether it had been because neither of us got much sleep or because we didn't know what to say after last night.

"So.." Pierce trailed off "About last night-I'm sorry, about all of that-And I swear I didn't know about Cayde or I never would of -"

"Pierce." I stopped him "You don't have to apologize, I've told you that. It was your dad and you did everything you could. You were there for me last night and that's all I could ask for, so thank you."

I knew Pierce had felt extremely guilty, especially after profusely apologizing all night. I wasn't going to hold it against him since it hadn't been his fault. We pulled up to school but the rest of the gang had already headed into the building since the first bell had already rung. Pierce and I headed into the main entrance and headed down the hallway where everyone moved to the sides of the hall, getting out of our path. Pierce and I walked down, side by side while everyone's heads turned towards us, and whispers exchanged. 

It reminded me of my first day at Northeast when I saw Pierce walk down the hall. It was like being in a movie, where the guy and girl walk down in slow-mo with some music playing in the background and everyone stares at them. Being in Crestmont gave you a sense of powerfulness and it showed in all of us in different ways. 

I looked over to Pierce and his eyes glanced over to mine, not missing a step. We shared the same smirk before turning our heads back to the hall and reaching where my locker had been in the corridor. I punched in my locker combination while Pierce leaned up against the lockers beside mine. I organized all my books that were just thrown in there, grabbing the ones I needed for my first few classes. 

I slammed my locker door shut, holding my textbook at my side and shifting the backpack on my shoulder. The whispers continued as people walked past us and I raised an eyebrow in confusion "What do you think the whispers are about?"

"Probably some rumor that was made up." Pierce shrugged "Walk you to English?" I nodded slightly and we headed towards my English class. Pierce had been so unbothered by the rumors that spread like wildfire through the northeast, but I couldn't help but let the gossip get to my head. I guess after you're someone like Pierce, everyone has their eye on you and will start anything to get at you. Pierce Gunner was Northeast's most eligible bachelor, especially after Mercury Sullivan was out of the picture. 

As we walked down the hallway, I saw a familiar blonde walking opposite our direction. Mercury's face screamed resting bitch face while she was alone, something that you never saw from her. Did everybody know about Mercury's fake lie? I didn't know how it would get out to the public but I wouldn't be surprised if it did. This is high school after all. 

Mercury's brown eyes met ours, turning dark to hold a glare. Pierce noticed her expression, throwing his arm over my shoulder in order to push me closer to him. His arm hung loosely around me but it was enough to start a fire in Mercury. I sent her a wink and a small wave as she passed us, just to get the satisfaction of pissing her off. 

Pierce and I reached my English class and the halls were becoming more and more empty as everyone scattered to their first block. I leaned up against the wall, holding my textbook in front of my legs with my hands crossed over it. Pierce placed an arm above my head, his body inches from mine as he stared down at me. 

"I have to go see Xander after school so June said she'd give you a ride." 

"Why are you going to Xanders?" I asked concerned, knowing exactly why he was going and that Xander was going to flip the fuck out on Pierce for what had happened to Pierce. Pierce looked off to the side, his jaw becoming clenched "You know why Aspen. I'll be fine, Xander's just going to lecture me about how I shouldn't have done that and remind me of my record blah blah blah." 

"I can come with you-" I began to offer in hopes that Xander may go a little easier on Pierce if I were there with him. Pierce didn't say anything when Finn approached both of us, his eyes scanning my body up and down before boring into my eyes. 

"So Aspen, heard you were the reason Gunner freaked the fuck out in Blue yesterday. I figured you'd be his new toy but now that Sullivan is out, you seem to be his new IT girl-wonder how long that's going to last." Finn spoke with arrogance in his tone.

"Fuck off Waters." Pierce gritted through his teeth, standing up straight to Finn, towering him only by a few inches. "Damn Gunner, the sex must be good if you're already this possessive." Finn's egotistical grin plastered across his face. Pierce took no hesitation before pushing Finn up against the wall and gripping at his shirt that was clutched in Pierce's fist. 

"Watch your fucking mouth Waters or I'll fucking kill you." 

"Mr. Gunner!" Mrs. Morgans my English teacher exclaimed as she exited the classroom "Let go of Mr. Waters now!" 

I watched silently as Pierce's eyes were dark as they bored into Finn. Pierce let go of Finn, backing up a few steps while Finn brushed off his shirt. "Now I suggest you get to class Mr. Gunner before I send you to the principal's office." 

"Pierce just go." I pleaded with him, not wanting him to get in any more trouble than he already has been. Pierce backed up from Finn, not breaking his glare before looking over to Mrs. Morgans then at me. He didn't say anything else before heading down the hallway, making me let out a deep exhale that Pierce gave up and didn't keep going to worsen the situation. 

Heading into the class, I took my seat at my desk and was immediately bombarded with questions by both Juniper and Triston.

"What happened last night?"

"What did Pierce say?"

"Did you guys do anything?"

"Did you tell him everything?"

"Did Aster freak out?"

"Woah slow down." I sighed, stopping their endless questions "Nothing happened. Pierce drove me home and I told him everything about Cayde...he comforted me and we talked for hours before we both fell asleep. Then we woke up and came to school, nothing happened."

"Nothing happened?" Juniper narrowed her eyes at me "Oh please Aspen, that is total bullshit. Pierce stayed the night with you to comfort you, he wouldn't do that for any other girl in a million years. You can't tell me that him spending the night with you was nothing." 

"Ok so he spent the night, so what? Pierce felt bad and he's been through the same shit I have; he knows how it feels. He was being a friend and that's all I needed last night."

"You so like him, I saw you guys dance last night. There is no way you are seriously denying this." Juniper scoffed a laugh at me in disbelief. 

"No, I don't." I shifted in my seat as I flipped through the pages of my textbook "And even if I did, it's not like Pierce would feel the same way. I'm just a friend at most, plus he kept telling me he had his eye on some girl and everything...so obviously is already caught up with her." 

Triston and Juniper both shared looks with each other, their mouths gaping open before turning to face me. "You're kidding right.." Triston laughed "How could you be so oblivious? Aspen that girl is YOU!" 

That girl is me?

"What? No." I shook my head back and forth "It's not me." How could the mystery girl that Pierce was talking about be me? Pierce couldn't like me, I mean he said it himself that he would never fall from me even from the beginning. Plus if he did it's not like he'd say it to me by covering it up to be some other girl.

"No Aspen, it's you." Triston stated sternly "Trust me when Pierce likes a girl you know. The possessiveness, the sudden caring, the subtle things like having an extra inhaler for her. Don't you ever wonder how he always has tabs on you? It's because he is so protective of you."

I was taken back and didn't know how to react. To say I was shocked was an understatement. Pierce was possessive and protective but he was just doing his job..right? I mean, after all, Xander and Archer assigned him to protect me at all cost when I joined the Crestmonts. I couldn't imagine Pierce and me together as more than friends. We were both so headstrong at times, it would clash constantly. 

"No, it's not." I denied "And even if it was, there is a strict no dating rule in the gang. Xander and Archer would kill us both if anything happened between us-which it won't." 

"Don't know if you've noticed but Pierce hasn't been exactly one to follow rules..." Triston trailed off "We're all going clubbing tonight while the guys work out some new clients at the bars. It's a hot spot for college kids and middle-aged men having a mid-life crisis. Just watch how he acts towards you tonight then come back to us and say he doesn't like you."

"Ok, everybody! The class has begun!" Mrs. Morgans announced to get all of our attention. Triston and Juniper turned back to their textbook while Mrs. Morgans went on to talk about what we would be doing in today's lesson. 

I couldn't focus, it was impossible. It couldn't be true what they said, I mean Pierce hated me depending on what day of the week it was. I thought back to the kiss behind the club that happened between Pierce and me. "You'll fall" were the words that repeated over and over in my head, the words Pierce said to me right after meeting him.

* * * * * *

The day went by so slowly, every block dragging more and more. I managed to survive the day and was in a hurry to get out of school as fast as I could. I gathered all my stuff together, shoving my books in my backpack as Pierce waited for me to be done. My eyes glanced up when I felt my body be pushed by my shoulder, looking over to see Mercury who shoved past me.

She didn't say anything or look back but continued to head out of the classroom. Rolling my eyes in response, I wasn't in the mood to fight with Mercury and her pettiness of me getting her suspended for two weeks. It wasn't even my fault if she never would've faked something as big as a pregnancy then none of this would have happened. 

"So when are you going to get back with her?" I broke the silence between Pierce and me as we headed out of the classroom and into the hallway. I felt like it had been inevitable for Pierce and Mercury to get back together, they always did. Although I did hope he never would and that this would be a final straw, but with Pierce, you never know. 

"I'm not." Pierce scoffed "I am so done with that bitch. All the mind games, the controlling, the manipulation." 

"I hope you mean that." I added "But on another note, are you going to the club tonight? I guess the whole gang is going so Xander and Archer can get new customers."

"Yeah, I'll be there as long as Xander doesn't suspend me for what happened at the restaurant," Pierce stated, but I was worried Xander would do just that. He couldn't have three members out at once..right? Plus Mr. Gunner deserved what he got coming for him.

As we exited the building and began to walk down the main staircase, I froze when I saw Tucker standing there. His hands were pushed into the front pockets of his jeans, his blonde hair was done up messy, and his eyes looked tired and dreary. 

"Tucker.." I said in shock. After how many days of just randomly disappearing, he was now here. Anger radiated through my body as I played over what had happened, him guilting me for not wanting to be with him.

"Hey." He offered a small smile. Hey? Was he serious right now? 

"Hey?!" I exclaimed, walking up to him while Pierce followed right behind me as we stood on the flat platform between the stairs. "You are gone for days! Not answering anyone phone calls, text, and weren't at your apartment. You guilted me beyond belief and called me a slut when I didn't want to be with you, and you have the audacity to show up and say Hey!?"

"Look Aspen-" He started "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those things. And I needed to just get away for a while. I've been going through a lot lately and I just acted out because I let my feelings for you get ahead of me."

Pierce scoffed a laugh as he looked down at the ground and shook his head. Tucker sent him a glare before turning back to me. "You should know something, when I was out I came across a Cointson member. It was at a bar and they were so drunk they had no idea who they even were. He started blabbing on and he said their leader was after the next Ambrosia; and that they had a plan to get that."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes crossing my arms over my chest "He was drunk, you said it yourself- he didn't even know he was. The guy could've been making up random shit. Plus it doesn't make up for you randomly just leaving."

"You don't get it." He pleaded with me "I liked you so much and I couldn't watch you gravitate towards Pierce, I was scared that he was going to win you over...just like he does with every girl that I like." 

A part of my heart sunk for Pierce because I knew that Pierce did in fact steal many girls from Tucker. Tucker was a nice guy who let his emotions control him, but the reality was that Tucker and I weren't meant to be. He made me feel like everything had to be rushed, especially when he knew the bare minimum about me. He was a good friend when you needed him to be but you didn't choose when you needed him to be a friend. Although I felt bad for him, I couldn't get out the words he said to me after finding out that I kissed Pierce.

"Yeah well..." The smirk on my face grew wide as I stared back at Tucker "Pierce was in my bed last night."

With that said, I shifted my backpack on my shoulder before pushing past him while Pierce sent him a smirk followed by a wink. We walked down to the cars and I couldn't help but feel on top of the world for being able to stick up for myself. Whether it was just a jacket, being in Crestmont gave me newfound confidence that I never had. 

"Didn't know you had it in you, Ambrosia." Pierce said proudly "Although I think we should actually have sex just to piss him off even more." 

Typical Pierce...

"Oh yeah real great idea." I rolled my eyes at him before we came to a stop at the cars where the gang all stood around. "Aspen, you're coming with me right?" June asked softly and I nodded in response before heading towards her passenger side but stopped when a hand clasped around my wrist. I whirled around to see Pierce and he nodded his head over slightly to Mercury across the parking lot. She was leaning against her trunk, while her eyes bored over to us. 

"I'll pick you up for the club at seven." Pierce leaned over to me before pressing his soft lips to my cheek, leaving a kiss on my skin. He pulled back before getting in his car and heading out while I looked over to Mercury; who shook her head back and forth. Her arms stayed crossed over her chest while she held a glare from a far distance.  

I knew what Pierce was trying to do, it was all to get Mercury raddled up. He wanted to get under her skin and make her jealous and this was the perfect time to do it. No matter how jealous Mercury got, she wasn't able to complain because she was suspended. I didn't want to be some tool to use to win the game at getting back at Mercury but I could play along for a little. We both were using each other to get under other people's skin. My comment to Tucker and Pierce's actions against Mercury. 

Pulling my head away from Mercury, I got into Juniper's car and buckled up. "What was that about?" She asked, referring to the cheek kiss that Pierce left behind. 

"Mercury was watching." I said blatantly, knowing she'd understand why "Did you know Tucker's back?"

"What?!" Her eyes widened, glancing over to me as we sat at a stop sign for a couple of seconds. "Yeah..he was on that stairs." I nodded slightly "He said that he had to get away for a bit. But he said he ran into a Coinston who was drunk, the guy started spilling everything...He said that the Coinston's were after the next Ambrosia.."

"Uh ok...well, don't freak out yet. We need to tell Xander and Archer though."

* * * * * * 

A://N Early Update!

Dedicated to gordonporkchop

How did you guys think about this chapter? It was kind of a breather chapter after all the chaos that has been happening lately. 

What did you think of Pierce spending the night? Do you think his soft side is coming out now the more he's around Aspen?

What do you think the letters from his Aunt Deliah are about?

Why do you think Pierce is so possessive and overprotective of Aspen when it comes to Finn? Do you think he's just doing his job?

Do you think Aspen and Pierce's relationship is developing into something more? If so who do you think will have a harder time admitting it?

Are you surprised Tucker is back? Why do you think he is now deciding to come back? Or if the Coinstons are actually after Aspen?

Do you think it's bad that Pierce and Aspen are using each other to make other people Jealous? Do you think it'll cause conflict?

Do you think Pierce is going to get in Trouble with Xander after what happened at the restaurant? What do you think he'll say?

Any ideas what will happen at the club??

Hopefully will get an update out on Thursday, I do go back to work as of today because covid restrictions were lifted slightly.

~ Ash